Door handle



Nov. 14, i950 l. s. KEELER ET AL.

DOOR HANDLE Filed Dec. 8, 1945 Zwgl.

Patented Nov. 14, 1950 DOOR HANDLE Isaac S. Keeler` and Gerald V. Jakeway, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Keeler Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,644

First, to provide an article of hardware such as vdoor handles and the like embodying a structure which is capable of wide variation in design thereby enabling the adaptation to different hardware designs such as are frequently desired in automobile hardware, refrigerator hardware and the like.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages which is very economical in its parts and in the assembly thereof. Third, to provide a structure having these advantages in which the outer casing is formed of thermoplastic moldable material permitting various adaptations to meet color schemes of the structure on which the hardware is to be used.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

*Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a door handle embodying our invention partially broken away and in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is an inside View with the spindle in transverse section on a, line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation partially broken away and in longitudinal section of the core or handle bar element with the filler mounted thereon.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a modified form or embodiment of our invention, the modication being in the cross sectional shape of the core member and the arrangement of the ller member thereon.

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing a modified form or embodiment of our invention, the modication being mainly in the core member.

Fig. 9 is still another modification or embodiment of our invention, the modification being in the core member.

Fig. 10 is a still further modification or embodiment of our invention.

The embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a core or han- 9 Claims. (Cl. 292-347) 2 dle bar member I formed as a sheet metal stamping and desirably having walls of uniform thickness. This core member is of inwardly facing channel section and is suitably curved longitudinally. At the butt or base end of the core member the walls are conformed to' provide a socket 2 for the spindle 3 which is arranged in the socket and secured therein by spot welding as indicated at 4 in Fig. 3. It is desirable to Vary handles of hardware o this type and to accomplish that we provide ller members 5 which are shaped to embrace the sides andV ends of the core or handle bar member and are provided with inturned flanges 6 engaging the inner edges thereof-see Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The filler member serves as a reinforcing member 'as well as a filler member. We use the term iller member to indicate that the member 5 is designed to lill out the shape of the core member.

The casing member 1 is of generally hollow U- shape and is formed of non-metallic thermoplastic moldable material. This thermoplastic material may be one which is well known inthe art, as forinstance Tenite It is embracingly disposed upon the core and filler members in supported engagement therewith. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sections through the structure at the dili'erent points to show the shape. However, at all points it will be noted that the casing is supported by the core and ller members. The edges 8 of the casing are folded around the inner edges 9 of the ller member, the extreme edges I0 of the casing being turned interiorly or interiorly disposed between the edges of the core member.

In assembling, the filler member is placed upon the core, the casing is placed upon the assembled core and filler member and its side wall edges or portions 8 are plasticized and turned or folded inwardly around the core member and between the edges 0f the ller member in side by side abutting relation as shown at l l, closing the core and ller member.

The casing constitutes a support for the ller member-that is, holds it on the casingA although ,x it will be understood that it could be a retaining fit or it might be Welded to the core. However, in practice satisfactory results are obtained by employing the casing as a retaining means for the ller. The casing is suitably shaped to provide the base portion shown at l2 in Figs. 3 and 4 that is, outwardly projecting wall portions are provided to secure the desired shape.

In the embodiment illustrated, the spindle is providedv with va bearing member I3 which is adapted to supportingly engage the bearing I4 in the socket member I5 seated in the door, a spring assembly I6 being provided to hold the bearing to the support.

In the modication shown in Fig. 7 the filler member I'I is disposed against the inner edge of the core member I which is of a somewhat more cross sectionalshape from that illustrated in the figures described. The'ller ymember projects outwardly to provide flanges so that the casing I8 is provided with bead-like effects I9 at its inner edge. The side walls of the casing member are conformed around these flanges and turned inwardly at 2U on the under side of the filler member and interiorly thereof at 2 I.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 the ller member 22 is pro-vided with a longitudinal rib 23 which supports the filler member -laterally, being disposed within the channel of the core and the casing being molded around the filler member and into the channel thereof as indicated in section in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 9 the filler member 2d is provided -with 'inturned flanges 25 on its inner edges which engage interiorly of the core member.

In Fig. l0 the filler member 25 has lugs 21 struck up therefrom engaging the core member to support the ller member laterally.

In all of these embodiments the casing serves to support the ller member although the filler member might be welded to Athe core member vif that 'is deemed desirable 'for additional strength or assembling convenience. However, that is ordinarily not necessary.

We have illustrated and described several Ipractical embodiments of our invention. We have not attempted toillustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations which might be desired particularly to secure desired shapes as it is believed that this disclosure kwill enable those skilled inthe art to embody or adapt our 'invention as maybe desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we `claim as new and desire to .secure by Letters Patent,

l. In a hardware article, the combination of a coremember constituting a supporting bar having inner and outer sides and lateral sides intermediate said inner and outer `sides and of inwardly facing channel section and having walls of uniform thickness, a filler member conformed to fittingly embrace the opposite lateral sides and ends of the core member adjacent its inner edges and `having inturned flanges engaging theinner edges of the core member and preventing lateral outward movement of the filler member on the core member, and a hollow `generally U-shaped Ycasing `member of non-metallic thermoplastic moldable material embracingly .disposed upon said core and filler members in supported engagement therewith, the edges of said casing member being extended around the inner edges of said ller member adjacent the inner'edges of the core member and disposed interiorly between the edges of the inturned flanges there of with the interiorly disposed edge portions of the casing member in side by side abutting relation closing the channel of the core member.

.2. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member constituting a supporting bar having inner and outer sides and lateral sides intermediate said inner and outer sides and of inwardly facing channel section and having walls of uniform thickness, a ller member conformed to flttingly embrace the opposite lateral sides and ends of the core member adjacent its inner edges and having inturned flanges engaging the inner edges of the core member and preventing outward movement of the filler member on the core member, and a hollow premolded casing member of thermoplastic material disposed upon said core and filler members, the edge portions of `said casing member 4being extended around the inner'edges of said filler member adjacent the inner edges of the core member and disposed between the edges of the inturned flanges.

3. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member constituting a supporting bar having inner and outer sides and opposite lateral sides intermediate said inner and outer sides, a spindle fixed to the inner side of the core member, a ller member engaging the inner side of the core member and having opposite side walls engaging said opposite lateral sides of the core member to prevent lateral shifting thereof on the core member and having spaced inner edges disposed Aalong the inner vside of the core member, and a hollow preformed generally U-shaped casing member of thermoplastic material disposed upon said core and filler members in supported engagement therewith and in supporting engagement with said filler member, said casing member being extended around said ller member and its edge portions being disposed interiorl-ybetween the spaced edges of the filler member and in side by side abutting relation.

4. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member constituting a supporting bar, a ller member engaging a longitudinal edge'portion vof the core member and engaging side walls of said core member on opposite sides of said edge portion to prevent lateral shifting thereof on the core member, said ller member having a. central longitudinal recess, and a hollow casing rmember of thermoplastic material disposed upon said core and ller members in supported engagement therewith and in lsupporting engagement with said filler member, said casing member being extended around said filler member with its edges disposed interiorly within said recess thereof.

5. In a hardware article, the combination of a coremember constituting a supporting bar having inner and outer sides and of inwardly facing channel section, a filler member engaging the inner edges of said core member and having a longitudinal slot, and a hollow casing member of thermoplastic moldable material disposed on said core and iiller members to enclose them, the casing member being extended around the ller member and its edge portions being disposed interiorly of the slot thereof and closing the slot, the casing constituting a retaining element for the filler member.

6. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member constituting a supporting bar having inner and outer sides and of inwardly facing channel section, a filler member engaging the inner edges of said core member and having a central `rib disposed within the channel of the core member, and a hollow casing member of thermoplastic moldable material disposed on said core and filler members to enclose them, the casing member being extended around the filler member and its edge portions being disposed interiorly of the channel of the ller member.

'7. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member having inner and outer sides, a ller member in supported engagement with the inner side of the core member and having lugs engaging the sides of the core member to laterally support the ller member on the core member and having a central longitudinal recess, and a hollow generally U-shaped casing member of non-metallic thermoplastic moldable material embracingly disposed upon said core and filler members in supported engagement therewith, the edges of said casing member being extended around the inner side of said filler member into said longitudinal recess to retain the. filler member upon said core member, the outer side'of the core member being disposed outwardly beyond the ller member to supportingly engage the casing member.

8. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member constituting a supporting bar having inner and outer sides, a ller member in supported engagement with the inner side of the core member and having a central longitudinal recess, and a hollow generally U-shaped casing member of non-metallic thermoplastic moldable material embracingly disposed upon said core and ller members in supported engagement therewith, the edges of said casing member being extended around the ller member into said longitudinal recess to retain the ller member upon said core member, the outer side of the core member being disposed outwardly beyond the ller member to supportingly engage the casing member.

9. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member constituting a supporting bar REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,512,920 Galvin Oct. 28, 1924 2,342,402 Jakeway Feb. 22, 1944 2,342,405 Johnson Feb. 22, 1944 2,402,407 Jakeway June 18, 1946 2,414,648 Keeler et al. Jan. 2l, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 412,351 Great Britain June 28, 1934 

